ansible-playbook

ansible-playbook [-i inventory] [-e vars] [--tags tags] [options] playbook.yml

ansible-playbook executes Ansible playbooks, which are YAML files defining automation tasks. Playbooks can provision servers, deploy applications, configure services, and orchestrate complex multi-tier deployments.Unlike ad-hoc ansible commands, playbooks define complete automation workflows with variables, conditionals, loops, and handlers.

-i inventory, --inventory inventory

Inventory file/path or comma-separated host list

Extra variables (key=value, YAML/JSON, or @file.yml)

Run only plays and tasks tagged with these values

Skip plays and tasks whose tags match these values

Run with privilege escalation (become)

Prompt for privilege escalation password

Dry run without making changes

Show differences in changed files (works with --check)

Further limit selected hosts to an additional pattern

List all tasks that would be executed

List all available tags

Number of parallel processes (default: 5)

Start the playbook at the task matching this name

Confirm each task before running

Check the playbook syntax without executing it

Clear the fact cache for every host in inventory

/etc/ansible/ansible.cfg

System-wide Ansible configuration, including default inventory, forks, and connection settings.

Per-user Ansible configuration overriding system defaults.

Project-level configuration in the current directory, highest priority.

Default inventory file used when no inventory is specified.

Playbook syntax errors fail fast; use --syntax-check first. Check mode may not work perfectly with all modules. Always test in non-production first.

ansible-playbook has been the primary execution method for Ansible automation since the project's creation in 2012, enabling infrastructure as code and declarative automation.

ansible(1), ansible-vault(1), ansible-lint(1), ansible-galaxy(1)

Source code · Documentation